Glossary

AVL

Audio Visual Link enables prisoners to appear in court on screen from prison so that prisoners do not have to physically travel to court for certain hearings. It is also used by Legal Aid for some conferences between inmates and their lawyers.

Bail

An agreement to attend court to answer a criminal charge. The alternative to bail is remand in custody.

A rating of the level of security in which an inmate must be held. Correctional centres are classified as maximum, medium or minimum security. Inmates are placed according to their classification.

Centrelink

The agency that administers social security payments in Australia.

Community Corrections

Community Corrections (also known as Probation and parole) is responsible for the management of offenders released on parole or probation within the community.

Court Net

The court administration system that maintains court records in NSW.

Deps Clerk

Short for Deputy Governor's Clerk. Historically the Deputy Governor was responsible for the custodial/security management of a prison, while the Governor was responsible for the administration of the prison. The Deputy Governor's role is now called Manager of Security. The title Deps Clerk is still used in prisons.

Forensic patient

An offender who has been found not guilty by reason of mental illness, unfit to be tried because of mental illness or who is awaiting trial for a serious offence where mental illness is thought to be a factor. Inmates already in custody who become mentally ill may also be classified as forensic patients.

Inmate Development Committee (IDC)

An elected body of inmates within correctional centres that meet to discuss and resolve inmate issues with senior management.

LawAccess

LawAccess is a free government telephone service that provides legal information, advice and referrals. for people who have a legal problem in NSW.

LIAC

The Legal Information Access Centre is a specialist legal information service run by the State Library of NSW. It provides information about the law through public libraries in NSW.

Lockdown

Where inmates are detained in their cells or wing areas as a result of a security or staffing problem.

MIN

A Master Index Number is an identity number given to an inmate when they are first incarcerated. They retain this number for all subsequent incarcerations.

These programs and services for inmates in NSW prisons include education, psychogists, welfare officers, Indigenous support officers, alcohol and other drugs counsellors.

Parole

The formal release of a prisoner to live in the community prior to the end of their full sentence period, on the proviso that they adhere to certain conditions of that parole.

Pod (or Wing)

Accommodation area for inmates in prison.

Probation and parole

See 'Community Corrections'

Protective custody

The practice of accommodating inmates separately to the main inmate population for their own protection.

Recidivism

A return to criminal offending (or prison) after a person has been released from custody. The recidivism statistics used in this report refer to inmates who return to prison within two years of release.

Remand in custody

The detention of a person in custody who has been charged with a criminal offence but is yet to be tried or sentenced.

Segregation
'segro'

The practice of accommodating inmates separately to the main inmate population, to protect other inmates and staff.

Sentence

A term of imprisonment to be served.

Tenancy database

Private companies that hold information about potential tenants for use by landlords and real estate agents.

TICA

Refers to the TICA Default Tenancy Control System, an Australian default tenancy database, which provides information to property owners about potential tenants. See

The Way Forward

A model for operating correc-tional centres that involves a 'new custodial rank structure; a more efficient staffing policy based on the principle of having inmates engaged in structured activities; increased opportunities for inmates to be engaged in employment or programs; and a new staff award including flat overtime rates and no overtime rates for management.' (NSW DCS, 2004a, pp. 6–7)

Throughcare

Post-release planning and service provision which commences before the prisoner is due for release.

Unconditional release

Release with no parole conditions after a full sentence has been served.